Nice for Lillard. Epic, actually. But Lillard voted by a panel of sportswriters and sportscasters in front of all-world guards Russell Westbrook and Steph Curry?!? Someone check the date. Not April 1? Then it just must be my eyes. Because Lillard making that honor is a strong move. One that the Blazers might use to their advantage.

Lillard is a nice player. A superb offensive player. And he's carried a Blazers roster that is marginal outside of guard CJ McCollum. But if he's one of the five best players in the NBA, then the Blazers first-round sweep in the NBA Playoffs is a bigger catastrophe than we previously imagined. Also, it would signal that Portland GM Neil Olshey not getting Lillard a supporting cast should be elevated from sin to cardinal sin.

"I hear that he is asking for another meeting," an NBA front-office source told me on Thursday.

In fact, Lillard may have already requested a follow-up meeting with owner Paul Allen, the source indicated. Apparently, the source said, Lillard's agent Aaron Goodwin is whispering as much. If so, great. Because Goodwin might seize on the good news and utilize Thursday's All-NBA announcement to push that Allen-Lillard meeting into fruition.

Don't know if Allen would grant a follow-up. He's never much been interested in meeting with other Blazers stars. Don't know what Lillard would tell him, either, other than, "Help me help you, boss." But that's about where we are with Lillard under contract for three more important seasons at a total of about $90 million in salary.

Three seasons -- that's the window of opportunity for Lillard, who will turn 28 this summer. If Portland doesn't demonstrate that they're capable of playing deep in the playoffs in that period, I don't expect the guard will be happy in that final season of his contract. And if that happens I don't expect he'll be in uniform beyond 2020-21.

The Blazers best player deserves some run in the All-NBA team. Second team, maybe. Third team, more probably. You'd trade him in a heartbeat for Westbrook or Curry. Still, it's not Lillard's fault for being named to the first team. Don't begrudge him for that. But what the Blazers ought to do is trumpet it and utilize it this summer to inform high-caliber free agents that you can, in fact, get some national love playing in the Rose City.

Lillard needs to do that as well. Because the last time he made public overtures, the prime free agents were not interested in moving to Portland to play alongside him. That can't continue given that the league's contenders are now built on the quick ability to assemble star power.

Not since the signing of Brian Grant ($63 million in 1997) has Portland been able to land an unrestricted blue-chip free agent who had other options. It's not only hamstrung the organization, it's forced the franchise to make desperate leaps instead of smart summer signings.

Portland didn't feel close to winning an NBA playoff series this postseason. I nearly spit soda through my nose when Olshey told a television audience last week that the team needs more playoff-caliber players. Did he not know that when he scolded fans and media for their criticism of the team's playoff performance? Or more likely, he's just moved into self-preservation mode, joining the chorus of those who think the GM hasn't done enough to stay competitive.

Note to Olshey: You're the GM.

Lillard is now a first-team All-NBA player like James Harden, Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Kevin Durant. That's a fact now. Blazers fans should celebrate that one of their players got the nod. But also, they should be a little concerned that if Lillard doesn't get help, those will feel like three wasted years on his contract.

That can't happen. After all, it's not often you have a first-team All-NBA player in uniform.